2023 NHL Draft Thread

[DoubleK]

I like Gavin Brindley, he could be a late 1st sleeper pick.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Sandman

With the way this draft is looking, rest assured-we will be getting a fantastic player with our first this year (hope we keep it). This draft is very forward-heavy in the top round, and everyone in it is awesome. I think we could use a blue-chip D to fill the cupboards, but as they say- BPA.

I am usually pure PBA, but in a draft like this, IMO this strategy is how we end up with Phaneuf instead of Getzlaf. If one of the giant RH centres is still on the board you have to go for it.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by butterfly

True. It just truly doesn't matter if it's a horrible draft or the best draft ever, if you have a pick you can keep up with the rest of the league.

My view is that this draft has a deeper group of potential front line players. So having a pick in the early teens will have a greater advantage than it normally does.

[Manhattanboy]

So sitting with some guys who played with Andrew Cristall in Vancouver.

He is best friends with Bedard. They grew up together.

Anyhoo, Cristall is the leading scorer on Kelowna and in top 3 in the WHL.

I know his parents.

So these boys think he will be better than Gaudreau. Sounds like the Flames need to look at him.

[TheScorpion]

Everyone I know in the public scouting sphere loves Cristall. I watched him at the Hlinka and he was very good.

I just want Arizona to get Bedard lol

[Samonadreau]

If there was ANY debate if Fantilli would challenge for 1st overall, I think that's put to bed now.

Edit: Reminds me a bit of the Mcdiver Eichel draft. Most other years, Eichel would have been 1st overall.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Everyone I know in the public scouting sphere loves Cristall. I watched him at the Hlinka and he was very good.

I just want Arizona to get Bedard lol

I hope Arizona gets him too. The way they manage the team, there is a good chance they trade him for picks and prospects at some point. The Flames probably have a better chance of getting him that way than through the draft.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

If there was ANY debate if Fantilli would challenge for 1st overall, I think that's put to bed now.

Edit: Reminds me a bit of the Mcdiver Eichel draft. Most other years, Eichel would have been 1st overall.

As the guy who first brought up this debate, I would have to say you're right.

[FlamesAddiction]

THN put together a ranking using a mathematical model while taking opinion out of it. This is what they came up with:

https://thehockeynews.com/news/all-m...draft-rankings

Cal Ritchie probably the biggest faller compared to their opinion based ranking, Barlow a big riser. They break it up into tiers and the top 14 are projected to be top6 or better, after that, it looks less certain.

1. Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL). Elite tier

2. Adam Fantilli, C, Michigan (NCAA). Top Line

3. Matvei Michkov, RW, Sochi (KHL). Top Line

4. Leo Carlsson, RW, Orebro (SHL). Top Line

5. Will Smith, C, NTDP (USHL). Top 6

6. Zach Benson, C, Winnipeg (WHL). Top 6

7. Andrew Cristall, LW, Kelowna (WHL). Top 6

8. Axel Sandin Pellikka, D, Skelleftea (SHL). Top 6

9. Oliver Moore, C, NTDP (USHL). Top 6

10. Eduard Sale, LW, Kometa Brno (Cze.). Top 6

11. Colby Barlow, LW, Owen Sound (OHL). Top 6

12. Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw (WHL). Top 6

13. Ryan Leonard, RW, NTDP (USHL). Top 6

14. Dalibor Dvorsky, C, AIK (Swe.). Top 6

15. Riley Heidt, C, Prince George (WHL). Impact

16. Matthew Wood, RW, UConn (NCAA). Impact

17. Dmitri Simashev, D, Loko-76 (Rus.). Impact

18. Gabe Perreault, LW, NTDP (USHL). Impact

19. Noah Dower-Nilsson, C, Frolunda (Swe.). Impact

20. Koehn Ziemmer, RW, Prince George (WHL). Impact

21. David Reinbacher, D, Kloten (Swi.). Top 4

22. Lukas Dragicevic, D, Tri-City (WHL). Top 4

23. Samuel Honzek, LW, Vancouver (WHL). Impact

24. Nate Danielson, C, Brandon (WHL). Impact

25. Cal Ritchie, C, Oshawa (OHL). Regular

26. Jayden Perron, RW, Chicago (USHL). Impact

27. Mikhail Gulyayev, D, Omsk (Rus.). Top 4

28. Cameron Allen, D, Guelph (OHL). Regular

29. Quentin Musty, LW, Sudbury (OHL). Impact

30. Oliver Bonk, D, London (OHL). Regular

32. Ethan Gauthier, C, Sherbrooke (QMJHL). Impact

[Buff]

I saw somewhere that Michkov is expected to fall a bit due to rumored attitude issues combined with him being signed in Russia for 3 years after this season.

[sureLoss]

Bob Mckenzie's mid season rankings:

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/connor-bedard...king-1.1909910

[GioforPM]

No goalies for THN. They also have Pellika "top 6" which is a mistake I think since he is a D.

[Canada 02]

40 deep

“The top four is special,” a scout said. “The Top 10 is very good, but relative to a lot of years, you can say the same thing about this year’s Top 20 or Top 30. I can go 40 deep and I still really like a lot of the prospects. So, yeah, it looks like a real strong group.”

[cral12]

Upside Hockey 2023 NHL Draft Rankings - Mega Spreadsheet Winter Edition - Top 224 + NHL Central Scouting's Midterm Rankings Combined

bit.ly/upside2023nhldraft

[DoubleK]

The Flames should take a look at Damian Clara in Rd 3 or 4. 6'6" Italian goalie playing in Sweden. Might be some hidden value there.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

The Flames should take a look at Damian Clara in Rd 3 or 4. 6'6" Italian goalie playing in Sweden. Might be some hidden value there.

Clara surname meaning: "Feminine form of the Late Latin name Clarus, which meant "clear, bright, famous"

Bright future, gonna be famous - Do it!

[devo22]

pretty cool to see David Reinbacher at 20 in McKenzies list. Given that Austria didn't have a single player drafted between 2006 and 2020, having three 1st rounders in four years (Rossi 20, Kasper 22 and hopefully Reinbacher 23) would be amazing.

[Monahammer]

I'm still hot for Nate Danielsen if we're picking mid round.

https://www.eliteprospects.com/playe...nate-danielson

[cral12]

DFO Steven Ellis midterm Top 70
https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/20...dseason-top-70

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

Koehn Zimmer looks to check a lot of boxes. RHS good size, scoring instincts, physicality, protectable skating skills and grit. Lots of good talent this year. Picking up another 1/2nd rd pick would be a dream.